The Art Education Center at James Madison University, founded in 2000, serves as a common voice for the advancement of art education in the university community and local school districts. The programs support the National Art Standards and the Virginia Standards of Learning for Visual Art. To carry out its mission, the Art Education Center provides undergraduate and graduate programs in art education, seminars, lectures, community activities, art education research, and summer art programs for students and adults.

The K-12 art education program is available to all studio and art history majors. Students in art education complete an art major, the required professional education courses, three school practicum placements, and two eight-week blocks of student teaching. Students complete licensure requirements for art teaching simultaneously with their art degree requirements. To remain in the program, students are required to earn a B grade or higher in all art education courses.

Students in art education coursework engage in both theoretical and practical issues related to comprehensive art education teaching. Art education students also develop professional teaching skills by participating in yearly activities provided through the JMU Art Education Center, including: the Madison Student Chapter of the National Art Education Association; Virginia Very Special Arts Festival; State and National Art Education Conferences; the JMU Summer Art Program, and JMU Art Workshop Day.

Fulfilling the requirements for K-12 licensure results in quality educators who are highly sought after by school districts and community art education programs for youth, adults, and seniors. Students seeking licensure should consult regularly with the director of the Art Education Center: Dr. Katherine A. Schwartz, schwarka@jmu.edu. Phone: 540- 568.6464.

Dr. Katherine A. Schwartz, Director of School of Art, Design and Art History, Professor of Art and Art EducationPh.D. University of Arizona; M.S. Florida State University; B.S. Radford Universityschwarka@jmu.edu, 540.568.7330

Dr. Karin Tollefson-Hall, Assistant Professor of Art EducationPh.D. Art Education, The University of Iowa; M.A. Art Education, The University of Iowa; B.A. Education, University of Northern Iowatollefkl@jmu.edu, 540.568.4304